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On Ervin Santana's 2008 Topps card, they accidentally put Johan Santana's signature...
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For whatever reason, Topps has been doing this literally every year since 2005."They put me in the Hall of Fame? They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel!"
-Eppa Rixey, upon learning of his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Motafy (MO-ta-fy) vt. -fied, -fying 1. For a pitcher to melt down in a big game situation; to become like Guillermo Mota. 2. The transformation of a good pitcher into one of Guillermo Mota's caliber. -
Yup - I thought that sounded familiar. They must have somehow overwritten Santana's signature file in production by mistake.sigpic
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This is weird. I know Ervin went by Johan for some time. I had thought that even though Ervin went by "Johan" for some time that Topps put the Johan Santana fascimile sig of the Twins/Mets Johan. I had a guy in another forum say he works for topps and that this is not true. He said that the fas. sig. is from Ervin when he was calling himself Johan. I have heard it debated so many different ways i am not sure what to believe.
Here is what gets me. 2007 Topps Opening Day clearly has a Fascimile sig of "Ervin Santana" on it. So why the Johan sig on the 2007 Regular Topps set? If he is Ervin and Topps has an Ervin sig quit using Johan whoever it may belong to.I collect White Sox & Error Cards.Comment
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"I know Ervin went by Johan for some time. I had thought that even though Ervin went by 'Johan' for some time that Topps put the Johan Santana fascimile sig of the Twins/Mets Johan. I had a guy in another forum say he works for topps and that this is not true. He said that the fas. sig. is from Ervin when he was calling himself Johan."
I've actually tried verifying that Ervin went by Johan at some point in his professional career but can find absolutely no evidence whatsoever he did so (not knocking that you said "I know he went by 'Johan'", but it's an urban legend). This is because in every single instance I've asked someone, they "heard it from a friend" or "saw it on the internet." Never once from a broadcast or a Minor League game/roster or scorecard or anything like that. I've even talked with a few Angels fans and they claim they never heard that.
With that being said, he could've very briefly decided to go by Johan. After all, he signed his Topps contract in late 2003, just after the Twins/Mets Johan Santana was coming off his first terrific season. But autographs signed by him during that period are "Ervin Santana." Who knows. However, I can say why Topps corrected themselves on 2007 Opening Day but then went back to the "Johan" signature.
Ever notice on a Topps pack or card back that it says "All Facsimilie Signatures Are As They Appear On Original Topps Contract"? There are almost no exceptions to this rule (I think English and Japanese characters is an exception, but that's it). Technically, when Topps printed the Opening Day card of Ervin, they violated their own policy. With the MLBPA no longer willing to turn a blind eye on ANYTHING, they probably checked and told Topps to put the original signature back on."They put me in the Hall of Fame? They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel!"
-Eppa Rixey, upon learning of his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Motafy (MO-ta-fy) vt. -fied, -fying 1. For a pitcher to melt down in a big game situation; to become like Guillermo Mota. 2. The transformation of a good pitcher into one of Guillermo Mota's caliber.Comment
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Great Reply! Urban legend it is. I have no proof that he was officially Johan at any point. Other then the sig Topps has on file i guess. I, too, do not see any point when he was legally Johan. Just a collection of stories. That was definately the best entry on this topic I have come across. Thanks! Still a crazy scenerio though!I collect White Sox & Error Cards.Comment
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That'd be the first proof. Thanks Macker! Still wondering why he went by Johan, though. Here's another thing...
"He changed his name.
"I just came up with Ervin," Santana said. "Ervin Santana, that sounds good.""
According to Baseball Prospectus, Baseball America, and Baseball Reference, that'd be flat untrue. They all give his birth name as "Ervin Santana." BBRef's Bullpen Wiki (noted for its innaccuracy) calls him "Ervin J. Santana." But perhaps the latter has finally outdone all three of the former?"They put me in the Hall of Fame? They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel!"
-Eppa Rixey, upon learning of his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Motafy (MO-ta-fy) vt. -fied, -fying 1. For a pitcher to melt down in a big game situation; to become like Guillermo Mota. 2. The transformation of a good pitcher into one of Guillermo Mota's caliber.Comment
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Which means nothing. They all assume the player's current name is the birth name unless someone uncovers something otherwise. All of the sites end up with the same data, and some of that data is a joke. But some people like to find a nugget of info, and, despite little or no provenance, run with it as if they made a remarkable find.Originally posted by Dalkowski110 View PostComment
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In that case, I stand corrected."They put me in the Hall of Fame? They must really be scraping the bottom of the barrel!"
-Eppa Rixey, upon learning of his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Motafy (MO-ta-fy) vt. -fied, -fying 1. For a pitcher to melt down in a big game situation; to become like Guillermo Mota. 2. The transformation of a good pitcher into one of Guillermo Mota's caliber.Comment
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2002 Stats Inc. Minor League Handbook
P. 374, Class A & Rookie league pitchers -- Johan Santana in Anaheim system
2002 Sporting News Baseball Guide
P. 618, Arizona League pitchers -- Johan Santana for Angels
P. 642, Pioneer League pitchers -- Johan Santana for Provo
2003 Sporting News Baseball Guide
P. 556, Midwest League pitchers -- Johan Santana for Cedar Rapids
2003 Baseball America Almanac
P. 56, Angels organizational leaders -- Johan Santana
P. 61, Cedar Rapids stats -- Johan Santana
2004 Baseball America Almanac
P. 56, 59 & 60, Angels recap -- Ervin Santana
P. 302-03, California League recap -- Ervin SantanaComment
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